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MG TD TF 1500 - MG-TF door handle installation

Ron Stout here – ronstout@optimum.net

I am reassembling my TF, and have encountered a strange problem with reassembling the door handle. The shaft of the door handle sticks out too far on the inside of the auto, not allowing the remounting of the Cover for the Door Lock.

I spoke with Blaine Graham at Moss Motors, who kindly measured a TD door handle (same part number as for the TF). On the TD door handle there is a “collar” around the square shaped shaft that is almost completely inside the door handle housing. The distance from the inside edge of the door handle to the end of the shaft is 2 5/16”.

On my TF door handle, the “collar” is completely outside of the door handle housing. The distance from the inside edge of the door handle to the end of the shaft is 2 9/16”. This accounts for the problem of not being able to fit the Cover onto the Door Lock.

The handles fit just fine before I took the car apart for painting, new harness, etc. I did NOT take off the lock or the striker plate/wedge.

However, I cannot figure out what to do next. Looking at the TF door handle end-on, I can't figure out how to move the collar back inside the handle (if indeed this is the “fix”).

I have pictures that I could send directly via e-mail.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Ron Stout
RMS Stout

The attachments on the next two posts are for a TD handle.
You state that the TD is the same as the TF.
I took mine apart for plating.

First the square shank that extends through he door and into the lock is pinned into the chrome handle. The chrome handle should be constrained on the outside by the triangular escutcheon held to the outside of the door by two screws.

I doubt that anything could move there unless the escutcheons are badly worn.

The picture attached here is what is inside the escutcheon.
The squared hole washer on the far right is held in place on the square shaft by swaging it on. To remove you must file off the swage.
But I do not see how that could cause the shaft to extend into the lock.

Now I have two questions.
What do you mean by the collar?
Do you have the upholstery in place? This moves the lock out by about 1/4"

Jim B.




JA Benjamin

Here is a pix of the assembled handle showing the swageing. (Prior to disassemble)

Jim B.

JA Benjamin

While we are on the subject ...

I am waiting for my handles to call off because I too took them apart to be plated. I had to grind off the indented nibs in order to take them apart.

For the life of me I cannot find a good way to put the nibs back on again reliably. I have used drift and all sorts of stuff but I barely put a dent in the square shaft. I suspect some big hydraulic pressed was used here.

Do any of you 'tool' guys know of a reliable way to put the nibs back on the shaft of the door handles?
Christopher Couper

Finally, although not germane to your question, here is the plated handle reassembled showing my substitute for the swage.

Jim B.

JA Benjamin

YOu did not wait for me to finish Chris.

Jim B.
JA Benjamin

My car is a TF and the length of the square drive is fine. It projects almost 2 inches past the spring and retainer assembly

I have had my handles apart for re-chroming and used spring clips that have a four tabs that slide down the square shaft but will not allow the clip to slide back. I used a long socket of the right size to tap the clips down the shaft, don't go to far or you will have to cut the clip off and start again.

They are fairly thin material and the outside diameter is a bit small. I got them from the local hardware chain. A specialist retailer might have something more heavy duty. These do seem to do the job though.

Max Irvine

Max: Novel idea. Nothing like a little physics.

I think this is the type?

http://www.bakfin.com/starlock/squareshaft-yz.html

Not seeing a US source yet.
Christopher Couper

Here is a picture of the TF handle with the "collar".

RMS Stout

The TD handle has a "collar", but the collar is largely recessed into the chrome handle. However, looking at my TF handle end-on, I can't figure out how to accomplish this.
RMS Stout

PROBLEM SOLVED.

1st, Jim B asked if the upholstery was installed, which added thickness. I just tried it, using the old upholstery, and the problem went away. Thanks so much, Jim.

2nd, Lawrie Alexander from Moss said that my door handle appears to be a replacement, and if the shaft is 1/2 inch too long, cut it off!

The two comments together pose the simplest solution, while explaining why the darn things fit in the first place!

Thank you one and all.

Ron S.
RMS Stout

Chris,
That looks like a more heavy duty and better clip than what I used. I think you will find something similar at a large hardware chain or try a bearing supplier.
Max Irvine

Chris, I just remembered that mine originally had chrome domes on them and were made to keep wheels on children's toys. I filed the caps off.
Max Irvine

All those ones I see in the US are for round shafts. The link I have above is for a square shaft. Might have to get one of my UK contacts to smuggle me a few out of the country.
Christopher Couper

This thread was discussed between 29/10/2014 and 30/10/2014

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